SHILLONG: Cases of cattle smuggling are on the rise along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya and the Border Security Force (BSF) has identified two cattle corridors from which the cattle are usually smuggled to Bangladesh.
The BSF PRO informed that there is a market in Tura area near Kalaichar where smugglers usually buy cattle of smaller size and then they are smuggled to the neighbouring country through some culverts and drains along the border.
BSF has also identified Dawki and Jowai areas as another cattle corridor which is used to smuggle cattle to Bangladesh.
The PRO said as there is no fencing in the area, smugglers come at night and unload the cattle 10-12 kms away from the border and then with the help of guides the cattle are smuggled in groups to Bangladesh.
“Nowadays communication is quite easy, so the guides inform the smugglers over the phone that BSF patrolling parties are not there and the cattle can be smuggled,” he said.
He also informed that BSF has learnt that cattle are being sent to Jowai and Dawki areas from the cattle market at Khanapara.
Reacting to a query, he said instances of cattle smuggling is on the rise since cattle are in high demand in Bangladesh due to ongoing Ramadan.
He also said that BGB is extending full cooperation to BSF in tackling the menace of cattle smuggling.
It may be mentioned that cattle smugglers, apart from indulging in cattle smuggling, often sneak into Indian territory for cattle lifting from Indian villages and causing serious harm to Indian citizens during such acts.
“There has been significant increase in smuggling of cattle in the bordering areas and in all the cases involvement of Bangladeshi miscreants has been revealed along with their local associates and it is surprising that the persons involved in these illegal activities are called cattle traders in Bangladesh,” BSF said.
BSF troops of BOP Balughat, South West Garo Hills, seized 23 cattle heads from the bordering area. The cattle were seized by a special BSF ambush party. The cattle smugglers, however, managed to flee taking advantage of darkness and thick foliage.
